101 Simple Truths We Often Forget

Courtesy of: Marc and Angel

It‘s not where we stand but in what direction we are moving.

Sometimes we find ourselves running in place, struggling to get ahead simply because we forget to address some of the simple truths that govern our potential to make progress.  So here’s a quick reminder:

1. The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing.  Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.
2. You can’t have good ideas unless you’re willing to generate a lot of bad ones.
3. A good idea without action is worth nothing.
4. Change is often resisted when it is needed the most.
5. Discipline is choosing what you want most over what you want right now. Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
6. People seldom do things to the best of their ability.  They do things to the best of their willingness.
7. You can’t change other people; you can only offer guidance, and lead by example.
8. Right now, there’s a lot you don’t know.  And if you never challenge your own beliefs, the list will never shrink.
9. If you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, you may be talking to someone who knows way more about the topic of conversation than youdo.
10. The most common and harmful addiction in the world is the draw of comfort.
11. Growth begins at the end of your comfort zone.  Stepping outside of your comfort zone will put things into perspective from an angle you can’t grasp now.
12. When you spend time worrying, you’re simply using your imagination to create things you don’t want.
13. It’s usually only as good or bad as you think it is.  Most of what we see is only what we think about what we see.
14. Most of the bad things you worry about will never happen.  Most of the bad things that do happen will have never have crossed your worried mind.
15. Some circumstances are uncontrollable, but we can always decide how we react to those circumstances.
16. Those who complain the most, accomplish the least.
17. Whenever somebody discredits you, and tells you that you can’t do something, keep in mind that they are speaking from within the boundaries of their own limitations.
18. Every problem you have in your life right now is your responsibility, regardless of who initially caused it.
19. It’s not so much about finding opportunities as it is about creating them.
20. Having a plan, even a flawed one at first, is better than no plan at all.
21. Paving your own road is intelligent only if nobody has gone exactly where you are going.
22. What you do every day matters more than what you do every once in a while.
23. What you don’t start today won’t be finished by tomorrow.
24. If you’re waiting for the perfect conditions, ideas or plans to get started, you’ll never achieve anything.
25. Doing something and getting it wrong is at least ten times more productive than doing nothing.
26. Putting something off makes it instantly harder and scarier.
27. You cannot change what you refuse to confront.
28. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
29. The harder you work, the luckier you will become.
30. Kindness and hard work together will always carry you farther than intelligence.
31. Lots of successful people have failed as many times as they have succeeded.
32. Failures are simply lessons that help you prepare for next time.
33. Being successful is a journey, not a destination.
34. To be successful does not mean you have to dominate others; it means you have to dominate your own potential.
35. Your success isn’t just about you.  It’s about how you positively impact the lives around you.
36. Being busy and being productive are two different things.
37. Being happy and being successful are two different things.
38. You have every right to be happy, but it’s up to YOU and only YOU to exercise that right.  Read Stumbling on Happiness.
39. Everyone you meet is better than you at something.  We all have different strengths.  What worked for someone else might not work for you.
40. When you’re worried about what others think of you, you’re really just worried about what you think of yourself.
41. The bad news: nothing is permanent.  The good news: nothing is permanent.
42. You don’t have to settle.  It’s simply a choice you make every day.  If you don’t like your life, then it’s time to start making changes and better choices.
43. There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’  Everything you do or don’t do has an inherent risk.
44. No matter how smart you are, you will make mistakes.
45. Problems, when they arise, are rarely as painful and hurtful as the process of fearing them.
46. Confusion isn’t a bad thing.  It means you’re growing and thinking.
47. Just because you can doesn’t mean you should.
48. In the beginning, you need to say “yes” to a lot of things to discover and establish your goals.  Later on, you need to say “no” to a lot of things and concentrate on your goals.
49. Even if it doesn’t cost any money, it’s not free if it takes up your time.
50. No matter how you make a living or who you think you work for, you only work for one person, yourself.  The big question is:  What are you selling, and to whom?
51. Money makes life easier only when it’s yours free and clear.  The stress of financial debt can change a person.
52. The fewer possessions you own, the more you will use and enjoy them.
53. Life is not easy, especially when you plan on achieving something worthwhile.
54. There is good reason why you should wake each morning and mindfully consider what and who you will give your day to:  Because unlike other things in life - love, money, respect, good health, hope, opportunities, and many more - time is the one thing you can never get back once it’s gone.
55. Cutting your losses is often better than the alternative.
56. We sometimes do things that are permanently foolish just because we are temporarily upset.
57. Screaming at people always makes things worse.
58. Everyone likes a person who gets straight to the point.
59. First impressions are oftentimes inaccurate judgments of a person’s true character.
60. When you’re up, your friends know who you are.  When you’re down, you know who your friends are.
61. If someone wants you in their life, they’ll make room for you.  You shouldn’t have to fight for a spot.
62. When someone truly loves you, they don’t ever have to say a word.  You will be able to tell simply by the way they treat you over the long-term.
63. We rarely lose friends, we usually just figure out who our real ones are.
64. Just because one person doesn’t seem to care for you, doesn’t mean you should forget about everyone else who does.
65. Family isn’t always blood.  They’re the people in your life who want you in theirs – the ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what.
66. Good looks attracts the eyes.  Personality attracts the heart.
67. In human relationships, distance is not measured in miles but in affection.  Two people can be right next to each other, yet miles apart.
68. Being nice to someone you dislike doesn’t mean you’re fake.  It means you’re mature enough to control your emotions.
69. If you aren’t happy being single, you won’t be happy in a relationship.  You have to create your own life first before you can share it with someone else.
70. Whenever you hate someone or something, you are giving that person or thing a piece of your heart.  Read The Road Less Traveled.
71. Life is too short to spend time with people who suck the happiness out of you.
72. It’s better to be alone than to be in bad company.
73. Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.
74. When you stop chasing the wrong things you give the right things a chance to catch you.
75. You can raise the bar or you can wait for others to raise it.  Either way, it’s getting raised.
76. In life you get what you put in.  If you want love, give love.  If you want friends, be friendly.  If you want money, provide value.  It really is this simple.
77. Cynicism might seem warranted at times, but it’s never useful.
78. Everyone dies, some sooner than later, and often unexpectedly.  To know this means you are alive, with a chance to make the time you have left count.
79. You are in competition with one person and one person only – yourself.  You are competing to be the best you can be.
80. Trying to be somebody you’re not is a sure path to self-hate, and a waste of the person you are.
81. It’s better to be disliked for who you are than to be liked for who you are not.
82. Giving up doesn’t always mean you’re weak, sometimes it means you are strong enough and smart enough to let go.
83. Sometimes you need to distance yourself to see things clearly.
84. You can’t make the same exact mistake twice. The second time you make it, it’s no longer a mistake, it’s a choice.
85. Not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.
86. You never have to deal with more than one moment at a time.
87. Many of the greatest lessons we learn in life we don’t seek on purpose.
88. You have to fight through some bad days to earn the best days of your life.
89. A harsh fact of life:  Bad things do happen to good people.
90. Regardless of the situation, the sun rises the next day and life goes on.
91. You never know how strong you really are until being strong is the only choice you have.
92. We end up regretting the things you did NOT do far more than the things you did.
93. We meet no ordinary people in our lives.  If you give them a chance, everyone has something amazing to offer.
94. Every passing face on the street represents a story every bit as compelling and complicated as yours.
95. People are not as beautiful as they look, as they walk, or as they talk.  They are only as beautiful as they love, as they care, and as they share.
96. Silence is often the loudest cry.  So pay attention to those you care about.
97. Making one person smile can change the world.  Maybe not the whole world, but their world.
98. Blowing out another’s candle will not make yours shine brighter.
99. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
100. Things turn out best for people who make the best out of the way things turn out.
101. Life is short.  If there was ever a moment to follow your passion and do something that matters to you, that moment is now.

12 Happiness Habits for Busy People

You should never be too busy to smile, because creating happiness in your life does not take a lot of time.  You just have to do a few things right.

Courtesy of marcandangel.com

1.  Smile at perfect strangers.

Don’t wait for people to smile.  Show them how.

Let your guard down.  Talk to someone you don’t know straight from your heart.  Compliment them.  Don’t anticipate awkwardness.  Just be you in that beautiful way only you know and give them the chance to smile and connect with you.

The more you smile at others, the more others will smile at you.  And life’s a lot more pleasant when everyone around you is smiling.  Read How To Win Friends and Influence People.

2.  Pretend today is going to be a great.

Do so, and it will be.  Research shows that although we think that we act becauseof the way we feel, in fact, we often feel because of the way we act.  A great attitude always leads to great experiences.

3.  Reflect on what’s good.

Appreciate all the good things in your life, no matter how small.  You already have some amazing things in your life, whether you realize it or not.

Most of us have incredible family members, friends, other loved ones who love us back.  Learn to appreciate what a miracle that is.  Most of us have good health, which is another miracle.  Most of us have eyes, with which to enjoy the amazing miracles of sunsets and nature and beauty all around us.  Most of us have ears, with which to enjoy music, one of the greatest miracles ever.

Be grateful for each of these things, and more!  Take time every day, throughout the day, to thank life for all that it has given you, to thank others for what they give you, to be grateful.

4.  Use personal strengths to get things done.

Everyone possesses unique personal strengths.  We all have different talents and skill sets.  Emotional happiness comes naturally to those who use their strengths to get things done.  The state of completion always creates a sense of achievement.  If this achievement is based exclusively on your personal ability to get the job done, the psychological rewards are priceless.  Read StrengthsFinder.

5.  Use your imagination.

Yesterday I saw a kid in the grocery store having the time of his life with nothing more than a banana and his imagination.  He was pretending the banana was a rocket ship, and he was flying it all over the store.

How is it that we are born knowing how to enjoy life, and yet after learning all of the wonderful things we adults learn, we somehow forget how to have fun?  It’s almost like we get dumber in this regard as we get older.

The solution?  Counteract the aging process with the full power of your imagination.  You don’t have to pretend bananas are rocket ships – although that would be fun – but try to imagine something that makes you smile at least once a day.

6.  Create something.

Creation is a process like none other.  Putting to use your innovative faculties and constructing something with your own two hands will leave you with an indescribable sense of wholeness.   There really is no substitute for it.  The only caveat is that it must be related to something you actually care about.  If you are creating financial plans for clients all day and you hate it, then that’s not going to work.  But if you can find something you love, and create something related to it, it will make all the difference in your life.

If you haven’t created something in a while just for the sake of creating, try it.  You will not be disappointed.

7.  Help someone else for a couple minutes.

In life, you get what you put in.  When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life.  The more you help others, the more they will want to help you.  Love and kindness begets love and kindness.  And so on and so forth.

8.  Share your lunch break with a close friend.

Get out of the office, away from your work and spend 30 to 40 minutes eating and socializing with someone you care about.  You’ll find that your mind will naturally start to unwind and you’ll begin to feel a bit more like yourself again.

9.  Get rid of one thing a day.

We have so much clutter surrounding us at any given moment (at the office, in our cars, in our homes) and we’ve become so accustomed to it that we no longer notice how it affects us.  If you start cleaning up some of that external clutter, a lot of internal clutter will disappear as well.

Choose one needless item each and every day and get rid of it.  It’s that simple.  It might be difficult at first, so expect some resistance.  But after some time you will begin to learn to let go of your packrat tendencies, and your mind will thank you for your efforts.

10.  Meditate.

Meditation is the art of focusing 100% of your attention in one area.  The practice comes with a myriad of well-publicized health benefits including increased concentration, decreased anxiety, and a general feeling of happiness.

On a general level, meditation helps you slow down, accept the moment you are in and achieve a higher sense of presence.  If you use meditation as a form of relaxation, it really doesn’t take long for you to start feeling the positive effects.  Read Real Happiness: The Power of Meditation.

11.  Avoid negativity and negative people.

Don’t belittle yourself and don’t put up with people who try to belittle you.  You are as capable as you believe you are.  There will always be obstacles, but if you think positive thoughts and seek solutions, you can accomplish what others say is impossible.

12.  Enjoy the moment.

This moment is your life.  Enjoy it.

Whatever you’re doing, regardless of the circumstances, pay attention and appreciate it.  Reading, writing, talking with a co-worker, taking a shower, walking up stairs, eating, washing dishes, sweeping, etc.  These small moments make up a huge portion of your life.  They can be enjoyed if you open your eyes and ears, and pay attention to what you’re doing.  Happiness is found with steady awareness.

This article was co-written by Marc and Fred Tracy.  Fred Tracy runs apersonal development website where he shares his insights and quirky stories.  All of his information is distilled into articles with the sole purpose of teaching you, the reader, how to build character and achieve the life of your dreams.

111 Lessons Life Taught Us

Courtesy of http://www.marcandangel.com/2011/05/15/111-lessons-life-taught-us/

What has life taught you?

Think about all the things you would love to tell yourself if you could travel back in time to give your younger self some advice about life.

1. Spend more time with those who make you smile and less time with those who you feel pressured to impress.
2. Never tell someone their dreams are impossible. You’ll feel like a fool when they prove you wrong.
3. No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.
4. Pursuing happiness by acquiring material things (fancy cars, expensive jewelry, designer clothing) is like jogging to the grocery store on your treadmill: it won’t get you anywhere.
5. Laugh at stupid jokes. Apologize. Tell someone how much they mean to you. It’s the small moments that make life grand.
6. At 79, I regret the things I didn’t do far more than the things I did.
7. Life is way more enjoyable when you stop trying to be cool and simply focus on being yourself.
8. Start by asking yourself whether each of your relationships drags you down or lifts you up. Surrounding yourself with positive, loving people is half the battle of living a happy, successful life.
9. When the ‘want’ gets stronger, the ‘how’ gets easier.
10. Too often we judge people on too little information. Instead of judging someone for what they do or where they are in their life, figure out why they do what they do and how they got to where they are.
11. If you want to feel rich, just count all the great things you have that money can’t buy.
12. I have taken noticed that the deeper I know about myself, the clearer I understand others.
13. You can’t change who you are. You can only change what you know and how you apply this knowledge.
14. I don’t need a certain number of friends, just a number of friends I can be certain of.
15. People who are meant to be together will find their way back to each other. They may take detours, but they’re never lost.
16. The older I get, and the more I learn, the more I realize I know so little. At 72, life still teaches me new lessons every day.
17. You can press forward long after you can’t. It’s just a matter of wanting it bad enough.
18. Complaining is like slapping yourself for slapping yourself. It doesn’t solve the problem, it just hurts you more.
19. Embrace change. As uncomfortable as it is sometimes, change allows us to stretch and grow. New things feel awkward and scary at first, but those feelings go away, and you are left with something bigger and bolder in your life.
20. Nobody ever feels 100% ready when an opportunity arises. Because most great opportunities in life force us to grow emotionally and intellectually. They force us to stretch ourselves and our comfort zones, which means we won’t feel totally comfortable at first. And when we don’t feel comfortable, we don’t feel ready.
21. No matter how bad your heart has been broken the world doesn’t stop for your grief. The sun comes right back up the next day.
22. Supporting, guiding, and making contributions to other people is one of life’s greatest rewards. In order to get, you have to give.
23. Learn to adjust the sails of your life to unpredictable winds, while keeping your focus clear on your destination. And keep sailing until you get there.
24. As you strive to achieve your goals and dreams you can count on there being some fairly substantial disappointments along the way. Don’t get discouraged, the road to your dreams may not be an easy one. Think of these disappointments as challenges - tests of persistence and courage - that life throws at you during your journey. They are necessary and are meant to help you grow as a person.
25. Spend less than you earn, go without until you have the money in hand.
26. Freedom is the greatest gift. Self-sufficiency is the greatest freedom.
27. Even when you feel like you have nothing, someone else likely has far less. Find them and help them. You’ll see why.
28. Marriages evolve and change. The feelings you had for the man or woman you married will mutate and evolve several times over the life of a marriage. Hopefully you will evolve in the same direction or at least embrace and accept the changes in the other person. It takes work, and sometimes it takes counseling. Don’t gloss over those changes or you may wake up next to a stranger one day.
29. Negativity breeds more negativity. When you focus only on the negative, obviously that’s all you will see. You will not seek out positivity, and even when positivity comes into your life, you’ll look for the negative side of things.
30. If you want something in your life you’ve never had, you’ll have to do something you’ve never done.
31. As a child, I always thought the expression “it’s better to give than to receive” was trite and silly. As an adult, I recognize the expression’s value. Having the capacity to give means you possess a mindset of abundance. Having the will to give means you want to make a difference in the world. Having the desire to give means you care.
32. It’s not so much what you say that counts, it’ how you make people feel.
33. Figure out what you want. Set real goals and make a logical plan to achieve them. It’s like the old saying, “A goal that is never written down is nothing more than a New Year’s resolution.” And we all know what happens to New Year’s resolutions.
34. Being open-minded is the key to more knowledge. If you want to know more about the world you have to keep an open mind. You have to give people and things a chance.
35. If you want love, give love. If you want friends, be friendly. If you want money, provide value. It really is this simple.
36. If something won’t be significant to you 3 days/3 months/3 years from now, don’t waste all your time worrying about it now.
37. Manage aging, but why fight it? You can spend a fortune on face creams, plastic surgery, hair growth formulas, and Botox, but eventually you realize you are fighting an uphill battle. Groom yourself nicely. Stay fit. Have unsightly things removed. But accept the beauty of aging. A striking mature man or woman is much more attractive than someone who looks overly taunt, tanned or top-heavy.
38. Never regret. If it’s good, it’s wonderful. If it’s bad, it’s experience.
39. Being busy and being productive are two different things.
40. Life is unbelievably brief. When you’re young, you might feel like there’s a huge mass of time ahead of you. But trust me, it passes much faster than you think. You get gray hairs before you feel like a real adult. And then you have kids, and suddenly they’re leaving for college. Stop long enough to appreciate it all.
41. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
42. Your health is your life, keep up with it. Get an annual physical check-up. 
43. Change is the only permanent thing in life.
44. Having a thousand credentials on the wall will not make you a decent human being. But genuinely helping one person everyday will.
45. You must create and look for opportunities. Opportunities rarely ever come knocking on the door of someone who’s not seeking them. You have to create and seek opportunities for yourself. You have to take the initiative to get the ball rolling and the doors opening.
46. Keep your brain active. Don’t get into a mental rut. Do new things, learn new things, explore new ideas in all areas of your life. Keep challenging yourself and your mind. Be curious and interested in the world around you.
47. Someone always has it worse. At times you may be having a bad day, but stop yourself and think about it; there are plenty of other people who have it worse off than you do.
48. In work and business, when they need you more than you need them, you have succeeded.
49. Trying to be somebody you’re not is not sexy. Be you. That’s when you’re beautiful.
50. Truly ‘rich’ people need ‘less’ to be happy.
51. Your ability to select a suitable spouse will greatly influence your financial and emotional well-being. Three common sense guidelines: 1. Pick someone who’s a joy to be around and who makes you happy. 2. Know the person well. 3. Ensure compatibility beyond physical attraction because beauty and youth are fleeting, while the mind and heart endure.
52. No matter how much progress you make there will always be the people who insist that whatever you’re trying to do is impossible. Or they may incessantly suggest that the idea or dream as a whole is utterly ridiculous because nobody really cares. When you come across these people, don’t try to reason with them. Instead, forget that they exist. They will only waste your time and energy.
53. We are all weird. And life is weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we call it love.
54. Saying “no” to right people gives you the time and resources required to say “yes” to right opportunities.
55. Living a life of honesty creates peace of mind, and peace of mind is priceless. Period. Don’t be dishonest and don’t put up with people who are.
56. If you catch yourself working hard and loving every minute of it, don’t stop. You’re on to something big. Because hard work ain’t hard when you concentrate on your passions.
57. Bulls**t might help you get you to the top, but it won’t keep you there. The truth always rises to the top and buries the bulls**t eventually.
58. After 40 years of teaching at a local college I’ve come to realize that a teacher is nothing but a clever student.
59. Sooner or later, you just want to be around the people who make you smile.
60. Forgiving yourself is far more important (and difficult) than getting others to forgive you.
61. Simplicity is often a major factor of success. But the process of simplifying things is rarely easy.
62. There are few joys in life that equal a good conversation, a good read, a good walk, a good hug, a good smile, or a good friend.
63. Laughter is the best medicine for stress. Laugh at yourself often. Find the humor in whatever situation you’re in.
64. Everything that happens in life is neither good nor bad. It just depends on your perspective.
65. When you spend time worrying, you’re simply using your imagination to create things you don’t want.
66. Maturity is more about education and life experience than it is about age. I know plenty of mature 30-somethings and immature 50-somethings.
67. When passion and skill work together, we’re often left with a masterpiece.
68. You’re not alone. Everyone has problems. Some people are just better at hiding them than others.
69. True friendship and true love do sustain the tests of distance and time.
70. It’s the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary. I believe this to be true and have experienced this with my own family. When I think of the times where we laughed the most or had the most fun – it was when we were doing simple, everyday things like swimming in a pool, combing a beach for shells, playing a board game or sharing a delicious meal.
71. Get up 30 minutes earlier so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man. That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness, and other unnecessary headaches.  (Read Getting Things Done.)
72. It is okay to be angry. It is never okay to be cruel.
73. Arguments are natural. An argument between two close friends doesn’t show a lack of love or respect, it’s simply a disagreement. In fact, quite often, the only reason we get frustrated with people and argue with them is because we care about them. Which is why we need to remember not to get too carried away.
74. Money and stuff are not all that important. Yes, you want enough to be comfortable and do the things you want to do. But accumulating for the sake of accumulating is boring and empty. Trust me, it gets old fast. So feed your soul, not your ego.
75. Hang out with younger people. Stay connected with what the generation behind you is doing and thinking. Establish friendships with them. You will benefit and learn from each other. Don’t act superior, because younger people may know a whole lot more than you do.
76. There is nothing to hold you back except yourself. There is only one question to ask yourself here: “What would you do if you were not afraid?” Think about it.
77. No matter how it turns out, it always ends up just the way it should be. Either you succeed or you learn something. Win-Win.
78. Either you’re going to take action and seize new opportunities or someone else will. You can’t change anything or make any sort of progress by sitting back and thinking about it.
79. Your years spent at school, reading and learning will seem short compared to a lifetime of minimum wage jobs. Get a good education, concentrate on areas that interest you and pursue your dreams.
80. Keep six months of your salary in an emergency savings account just in case you lose your job or have an emergency that prevents you from working for a prolonged period of time. And keep a few extra hundred dollars on hand for unexpected expenses, such as car and home repair.
81. A hero is someone who makes a positive difference in someone else’s life – even if it’s only one other person’s life.
82. You’re never too old to follow your dreams, whatever they may be. I didn’t start my first business until I was 46 (something I always wanted to do). Now at 53, my business is more successful than I ever could have dreamed.
83. Let your kids fail. Your kids will be okay, even if you think they are headed for the juvenile hall right now. Don’t come to their rescue all the time. Don’t manage every detail of their lives or over-schedule them with karate or viola lessons. Give them some boundaries, and then relax.
84. Be vulnerable. Allow yourself to feel, to be open and authentic. Tear down any emotional brick walls you have built around yourself and feel every exquisite emotion, both good and bad. This is real life. This is how you welcome new opportunities.
85. There’s no such thing as ‘risk free.’ Everything you do or don’t do in life has an inherent risk.
86. Take a step back to gain some perspective. Usually when we’re worried or upset, it’s because we’ve lost perspective. In the grand scheme of things, this one problem means almost nothing.
87. Every mistake you make is progress. Mistakes teach you important lessons. Every time you make one, you’re one step closer to your goal. The only mistake that can truly hurt you is choosing to do nothing simply because you’re too scared to make a mistake.
88. The greatest “adventure” is the ability to INQUIRE, TO ASK QUESTIONS. Sometimes in the process of inquiry, the search is more significant than the answers. Answers come from other people, from the universe of knowledge and history, and from the intuition and deep wisdom inside yourself.
89. If it were easy everyone would do it. This is why get rich quick schemes will never be true. If it was so quick and easy then everyone would be millionaires. Making money and accomplishing tasks is hard work, but well worth it.
90. If you awake every morning with the thought that something wonderful will happen in your life today, and you pay close attention, you’ll often find that you’re right.
91. If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.
92. Count your blessings every day. I know, this is a refrigerator magnet line, but practice it daily anyway. There is so much good, so much beauty, so much love in your life. What more do you really need? You have so much right now, you just need to pause long enough to appreciate it.
93. It’s not about getting a chance, it’s about taking a chance. You’ll rarely be 100% sure it will work. But you can always be 100% sure doing nothing won’t work. Sometimes you just have to go for it!
94. The one with nothing to hide is always the one left standing tall.
95. There is only one way to learn, and that is through action. Trying to learn without doing is like trying to lose weight by watching someone else exercise. It’s just not going to work.
96. Change happens for a reason. Roll with it. It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.
97. Experience life before you settle down. Whatever it is you want to do or experience, do as much of it as you can before you have children. Especially travel. Live in a hostel in Costa Rica for a month or drive across the country from coast to coast if you have to. But go have some really great, amazing, mind-blowing experiences.
98. Life gives and takes away. During difficult times, be committed to resolving problems, but also lighten up and ride the waves of impermanence. What is a monster problem today will be a forgotten thought in the future.
99. When two people cooperate instead of competing against each other their teamwork accomplishes far more than either of them could have achieved on their own.
100. Between what happened and what will happen is your choice. So choose to be positive in everyday tasks.
101. The best feeling in the world is getting paid to do what you love to do.
102. Good looks attracts the eyes. Personality attracts the heart.
103. If you’re smiling right now, you’re doing something right.
104. If you live your life consumed by the past, you waste the great moments you still have left to live.
105. Treat every small interaction with another person as an opportunity to make a positive impact in both your lives.
106. There’s a big difference between knowing and doing. Knowledge is useless without action.
107. Time is of the essence. You are born and you will die. Don’t waste the time in between. Use a time management system to control events, rather than have events controlling you.
108. The French have an aphorism that you don’t appreciate something until you don’t have it anymore. In 40 years from now what is it that you will regret not having accomplished, appreciated or attempted? Do it, appreciate it, attempt it NOW!
109. If it’s out of your control, why fret about it? Concentrating on things you can control is how you make good things happen.
110. Never send a text message, email or photo to someone that’s unfit for the eyes of the entire world. In this digital age you never know what might slip into the public eye.
111. The acquisition of knowledge doesn’t mean you’re growing. Growing happens when what you know changes how you live.